Heating and conveying mechanism



June 2,v 194 H. F. cox, JR, ETAL 2,234,641

HEATING AND CONVEYING- MECHANISM Filed March 15,1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l NVENTOR5 W6. G1,

ATTORN EY June 2, 1942- H. F. cox, JR., arm.

HEATING AND CONVEYING MECHANiSM Filed March 15, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented June 2, 1942 v I HEATING AND CONVEYING MECHANISM Herbert F. Cox, Jr., Madison, N. J., and Howard M. Hill, Bayside, N. Y., assignors to American Can Company, Newv York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application March 15, 1938, Serial No. 196,090

10 Claims. (Cl. 91 51) The present invention relates to a mechanism predetermined temperature to maintain its liquid for maintaining thermoplastic adhesive at a precondition and to avoid solidification. determined temperature and in liquid form while Numerous other objections and advantages of conveying the same from place to place and has the invention will be apparent as it is better unparticular reference to an adhesive supply tank derstood from the following description, which, and its connecting pipe line both encased in taken in connection with the accompanying heating jackets and provided with improved drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment valves for controlling the flow, of adhesive therethereof. through. Referring'to the drawings:

In the manufacture of various articles includ- Figure 1 is a side View, part in elevation and ingcontainers or cans made from fibrous sheet part in section, of an apparatus embodying the material or the like, thermoplastic adhesives are insta t inve t a d including Wiring often used in the joints and such adhesives must gram of the electric app s u be applied while hot and while of liquid con F 2 is an enl r sectional view t k sistency. It is difficult to convey such heated s n ially along the lin n and adhesive any distance as through pipe lines, for 3 s n enlarged ion l V ew ta e bexample, from one machine to another, because Sfiantially along the line ill of heat losses and consequent hardening of the As a p eferred embodiment of the invention adhesive. solidification of the adhesive clogs the h dr w n disclose an ve supply tank pipe line, renders it useless and at times may in- A connected by a pipe line B to a suitable advalve the replacement of the entire line. e v pp y mechanifim Y y of we The instant invention contemplates overcomp the mechanism C includes & p DE ing this difficulty by providing a special for f ers D one of which rotates in a bath. of the ad adhesive supply tank and easily opened pipe sechesive Supplied y the W111i; A Strip 0 We tlons with a system of heating jackets disposed of mate ial 0 be ma e is passed ween t around the adhesive supply tank and around the rollers pipe line so that the adhesive in some cases may a cd liquid Semi-liquidthermoplastic b m lt i t t k t whether melted there hesive will in most cases he introduced into the or received in liquid vform will be maintained at a Supply tank A in a y Su t e ma ner and is predetermined temperature both within the tank. then pp as a q d the app y E and while flowing through the pipe and the inanism C as required. While n t e S p y tankven'tion further contemplates a control of flow and While flowing through the p p n to t of th adhesive thrgugh t pipe line. applying mechanism the hot adhesive is main An object, therefore, of the invention is the tained at a predetermined temperature by a f u provision of a heat maintaining supply mm; and heating medium such as steam, hot water, hot

its connecting pipe line for conveying a h ted Oil, 01 the like. is circulated thermoplastic adhesive over distances and in thmugh'suitable heating jackets G which are liquid form at a predetermined temperature provided Ound the supply tank and h pipe h i t t d t pipe line are line respectively. These jackets prevent cooling rounded by heating jackets through which a 40 and solidifying 0f the e e heating medium is circmatei The amount of flow oflthe heated adhesive Another object is the provision of such a supfrom the supply tank A is manually controlled ply tank and pipe line wherein the adhesive y a Fegulatmg Valve H which is 10Cated in the passes through angular portions of the line withpipe hne adjacent the supply tank- Thls Valve Y. may be adjusted so that a predetermined nant 1 e n and without interf rence n it no q gi gff g e l S r tity of adhesive will always be on hand in the A further Object is the provision of a (supply pp y n mechanism while at the same time preventing an excess of adhesive to accumulat tank and plpe 1mg Whlch may be readlly cleaned An automatic shut-oil valve J is also pr vided o i 51) in the pipe system and is located adjacent the Another object s the DTOVISIOH 1n Such-a Plpe applying mechanism C. This valve is preferably line of an automatic shut-off valve for preventoperated by compressed air, controned 1 t ing fl o adhesive ough the line when a macally by a solenoid actuated auxiliary or pressure chine using the adhesive stops operating, the ad- 4 fluid valve K. Auxiliary valve K in its turn is hesive while trapped in the line being held at a 55 affected by conditions in the applying mechanism C. These two valves J and K collectivelycut off the flow of adhesive through the pipe line B when the applying mechanism st-opsand collectively restore normal passage of the adhesive through the line when the mechanism is again started.

The supply tank A preferably comprises a cup shaped vessel ll having tapering side walls It and an integral curved bottom wall l3. At the top the vessel walls I 2 are welded to a ring M. A top plate I5 is preferably bolted to the ring and closes the supply tank at the top. plate is provided with an opening l6 through which the adhesive, as a hot liquid, a semiliquid, or solid may be introduced into the vessel. A pivoted'c'over plate I! normally closes the opening.

If the solid form of adhesive is put into the vessel ll considerable time and heat may be required to melt it. It is therefore better practice The top tion of joint permits free passage of adhesive from one pipe section to the other during its normal use. At the same time it allows for exterior communication with each pipe section individually so that both may be emptied and readily cleaned out when the caps are removed;

The horizontal pipe section 46 is surrounded by a spaced tubular jacket 5i which provides a heating space 52. The adjacent ends of the heating jackets 43, El are joined together inany suitable manner, preferably by welding so that the heating spaces of the respective jackets are in communication with each other and so that only a minimum short section of the extensions 48 with their caps 49 are exposed to the outside.

In conveying the adhesive some distance through the pipe line, two or more continuing and connecting lengths or sections of pipe may be required. For best results these pipe secable manner and then pour it into the vessel while hot.

Adhesive in the vessel II when in melted form is preferably agitated while it is held in storage preparatory to being transferred. This agitation is eifected by a stirring instrumentality comprising a rotatable shaft is which extends down into the adhesive and which carries a pair of angularly disposed horizontal stirring rods l9. The upper end of the shaft is journaled in a bearing 2! of a speed reduction mechanism of any suitable design generally indicated by the numeral 22. An electric motor 23 carried on the mechanism is utilized to drive the latter and through it the stirring shaft l 8.

The supply tank heating jacket F fits around the outside of the vessel H and is therefore of substantially the same shape as the vessel. For this purpose the jacket is formed with tapering side is 25 which at their lower edges merge into a curved bottom wall 25. These walls are spaced away from the vessel walls l2, l3 and thus provide a jacket space 21 through which the heating fluid is circulated. At their upper edges the jacket side walls 25 are welded to the ring i i.

The supply tank unit is supported by a vertically disposed bracket 39 which in the form shown in Fig. 1 rests on the floor. At its upper end the bracket is provided with an annular extension 32 which carries a ring 33 held above the bracket extension by spacer blocks 3d.- The ring is secured to the bracketextension by rivets 35 which extend through the spacer blocks. Ring 33 encircles theheating jacket side walls 25 and thus provides a seat into which the supply tank fits.

The pipe line B which conveys the adhesive from the supply tank A to the applying mechanism C preferably includes a vertical pipe section 4| (Fig. l) the upper end of which is secured to the curved bottom wall l3 of the vessel I l adjacent an opening 42 provided therein.

This pipe section is surrounded by a tubular ends of the pipe sections projecting beyond the joint as extensions 48. These extensions are fitted with removable caps This construe 7s tions and their enclosed heating jackets are connected in a self supporting manner. By way of example the horizontal pipe line under discussion is shownas composed of two sections in which there is incorporated a joint 54 which has been found suitable for holding together adjacent ends of the pipe sections and jackets.

In such a joint the free end of the pipe section 46 and the adjacent end of a continuing pipe section 56 are welded onto hubs 51 of flange plates 58. The flange plates are secured together by bolts 59. A clear passageway is thus provided through the connecting pipe sections for free movement of the adhesive.

The free end of the heating jacket 5| is supported on the outer surfac of the flange hub 57 0f the pipe section 46 and is welded thereto, while the adjacent end of a heating jacket 6| which surrounds the continuing pipe section 56 is likewise supported and welded on the outer surface of its flanged hub 57. Communication between the heating space 52 of jacket 5| and a heating space 52 of jacket 6! i effected around the flange joint 54 by way of a by-pass 64. One end pipe of the by-pass is connected into the jacket 5i while the other end pipe is connected into the jacket 6 i The opposite end of the continuing pipe section 56 preferably intersects and connects with a pipe (Fig. 3) which is preferably horizontal and is preferably at" a right angle to the pipe 55. Pipe 65 is also surrounded by a heating jacket 5? providing an annular heating space 58. The adjacent ends of these pipe sections and heating jackets are joined in a manner similar to the angular joint ti thus providing protected pipe extensions 59, i6. Extension 59 is closed off with a removable cap ll-which may be removed when cleaning out the pipe section. Extension 10 carries the shut-off valve J hereinbefore mentioned.

The angularly disposed horizontal pipe section communicates with the lower end of a short vertical pipe section 73 (Figs. 1 and 3) having a surrounding heating jacket 14 providing a heating space 15 around the pipe section. The adjacent ends of these pipe sections are joined in a manner similar to the joint 47 thus providing protected pipe extensions 16 havin removable pipe cleanin caps ll secured to the outer ends thereof; It will thus be seen that the pipe line is provided at all angular intersections and connections with facilities for opening and cleaning out each individual section of the line.

Vertical pipe section 13 lead to the adhesive applying mechanism C and conveys the flowing adhesive into a jacketed container or reservoir 19 of the mechanism. For this purpose the upper end of the pipe section is threaded into the bottom of the reservoir. -The upper end of the pipe section heating jacket 14 is secured to a jacket 8I which surrounds the reservoir 19 and provides a heating space 82.

The fluid heating medium used for maintaining the liquid or semi-liuuid adhesive at a predetermined temperature is preferably introduced. into the heating space El surrounding the-vessel II by way of an inlet pipe 95 which is threaded into a side wall 25 of the supply tank heating jacket F. The inlet pipe lead from any suitable source of supply. Obviously. the heating mmium is maintained at the desired determined temperature.

Besides circulatin through the heating space 21 the heating fluid flows through the pipe line heating spaces 44, 52, lay-pass 64, heating spaces 62, 69, 15 of the respective continuing jackets 43, 5| BI, 61, 14 and also through the heating space 82 around the adhesive reservoir 19 of the applying mechanism C. From the reservoir 19 the fluid may be discharged from the system by at a predetermined level. The regulator valve H is preferably located in the vertical pipe section 4| of the pipe line at a position adjacent the supply tank A..

Regulator valve H (Figs. 1 and 2) includes a laterally projecting tubular member 9| which is preferably a part of the pipe section 4|. The

The adhesive is thus v member 9I carries a close fitting valve element or plug 92 having a rounded end 93 which extends into the interior of the pipe section 4| and at a right angle thereto. A gasket 94 surrounds the valve element. This gasket is held in place by a sleeve 95 secured on the tubular member 9I and by a coupling 96 which is threaded on the sleeve. The coupling is screwed down .tight on the gasket and thus squeezes it against the valve element.

At its outer end the valve element 92 is pro-- vided with a threaded stem 91 which terminates in a square head 98 adapted to receive a wrench. The stem is threaded through a stationary nut 99 seated in a recess I9I formed in the outer end of the coupling 96 and held against rotation by a cap I92 threaded on the outer end of the coupling 96.

Thus by applying a wrench to the squarehead 96 of the valve stem 91 the valve element 92 may be moved inwardly or outwardly relative to the pipe section 4|. In this manner the passageway tlirough'the pipe 4| at the valve may be restricted to the desired degree or left unrestricted, thus regulating the flow of adhesive past the valve and through the pipe line B.

The shut-ofi valve J (Figs. 1 and 3), which is efl'ective when the rollers D of applying mechanism C stop operating, is preferably located at the joint between the continuing horizontal pipe section 56 and the angularly disposed pipe section 66. It is in longitudinal alignment with the latter. For this purpose the extension 19 of the angularly disposed pipe section 66 carries a flanged sleeve I95. An air cylinder I96 is secured thereto. The air cylinder is provided with a head I91 having a tubular part I98 formed thereon.

Within the cylinder I99 is a piston I99 having a piston ring III engaging the cylinder walls in an air tight sliding fit. The piston is mounted on one end of a hollow piston rod H2 which slides in the extension 19 of the angularly dis posed pipe section 96. This piston rod also constitutes a movable valve element. A long compression spring H4 is disposed within the hollow piston rod and extends through the part I99 in the cylinder head I01. place by a pin II5 which is secured-in a nut cap H6 threaded over the end of the part 38.

Adjustment of the compression in the spring II4 may be had by turning the nut cap H6, the latter being locked in a desired adjusted position by a locknut II1.

flanged sleeve I95 and the air cylinder I96 and prevents leakage ofair from the cylinder into the pipe line.

The normal or non-operated position of the valve element or piston rod I I2 is shown in Fig. '3, it being fully retracted with its inner end out of the path of travel of the adhesive flowing from pipe section 56 into the angularly disposed pipe section 66. In this normal position the spring I I4 is compressed and the piston is out or against the head I91 of the cylinder I96.

This normal non-operating position of the piston and piston rod is maintained by action of a suitable fluid, preferably compressed air in the cylinder. This air is introduced into the cylinder by way of a tube I2I one end of which is threaded into the side wall of the cylinder. The other end of the tube is threaded into the auxiliary air valve K and opens into a bore I22 formed in the valve. A small aperture I23 in the auxiliary valve casing leads from the bore to the outside of the casing. An air inlet pipe I24 threaded in the valve casing side wall also joints with the bore. This inlet pipe I24 leads from any suitable source of compressed air.

The auxiliary air valve K is formed as a part of an electric solenoid I3I which has a movable core I32. One end of the core fits into and has movement within the bore I22 of the auxiliary valve. This end of the core is provided with an annular channel I33. The opposite end of the core is backed up by a compression spring I34 held in place by a cap I35 threaded on an inner sleeve of the solenoid.

The solenoid I3I is electrically connected in circuit with an electric motor I39 (Fig. 1) which drives a pair of feeding rollers I36, I31-utilized in feeding web E through the adhesive applying mechanism C. This driving feature will now be explained.

Feeding rollers I36, I31 are mounted on shafts I39, I39 journaled in suitable bearings formed in a machine frame I4I which may support the adhesive reservoir 19. These shafts carry meshing spur gears I42 which effect a rotation of the feed rollers in unison. Shaft I39 also carries a pulley I43 which is driven by a belt I44taking over a pulley I45 mounted on a rotor shaft I46 of the motor I39. Thus the motor by rotating the feeding rollers, draws the web E through the applying mechanism and between the rollersD.

The motor is operated by electrical energy The spring i held in A gasket II9 surrounds the piston rod and is held in place between the passing through a starting and stopping switch II (see wiring diagram in Fig. 1) One terminal of this switch is connected by a wire I52 to the motor I30. The other terminal of the switch is connected by a wire I53 to th solenoid I3I. The solenoid is also connected by a wire I54 to a source in turn is connected by a wire I56 to the motor I30.

Thus when the starting switch I5I is closed the circuit is completed and electric energy flows through the solenoid I3I to the motor I30. The motor is thus set in operation and also the solenoid is energized. Energization of the solenoid thus moves its core I 32 into the position shown in Figs. 3, where it is held as long as the solenoid remains energized. When the core is in this position its annular channel I33 aligns with the inner end of the inlet pipe I24 and also the inner end of the tube I H establishing communication between them. At the same time the extreme end of the cofe adjacent the channel blocks off the atmosphere port I23.

Compressed air from inlet pipe I24 thus passes the valve J and holds the piston I09 and its connecting rod or valve element I I 2 in retracted position, the forward end of the valve element being disposed entirely within the pipe line extension so that it will not interfere with the flow of adhesive through'the line. This isthe normal operating position of each. of the valve parts of valves J and K. v When it is desired to stop the feeding of the web E through the applying mechanism, the switch I5I is manually opened, the circuit is broken and electric energy ceases to flow from the generator. ergized. The solenoid spring I34 thereupon 'pushes the core I32 away from the cap I35 (Fig. 3) thus shifting its channel I33 out of alignment with the air inlet pipe I24; By this movement the air, tube I2I is brought into communication with the atmosphere aperture I23 by means of thus released to the atmosphere. I

This action permits the compression spring I I4 in the piston rod or valve element I I2 to push the latter forward into the pipe line B, the end of the valve element, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, closing of! communication between the pipe section 56 and the angularly disposed pipe section 66. The flow of adhesive through the line is thus stopped until such time as "the solenoid I3I of the auxiliary valve K is again energized by starting of the motor ,I 30 .and the air pressure is again built up in the cylinder I06 of the shut-off valve J.

Obviously closing of the pipe line for preventing flow of adhesive therethrough does not in any way shut off flow of the heating medium in the various jacket spaces surrounding the adhesive. Therefore the adhesive will not harden in the line even though it has ceased to flow from the vessel II into the reservoir 19. Usually after a day's run the pipe lines, vessel and reservoir will be emptied of the adhesive and then all of the pipes can be easily cleaned out'preparato'ry to closing down for'the night. I

It is thought that the invention and many of the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be madein the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of of electric energy such as a generator I55 which through the air valve K into the cylinder I06 of s the channel I33. Air within the cylinder I05 is' The solenoid I3! is thus de-enthe invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

We claim: v

1. A mechanism for maintaining thermoplastic adhesive in liquid form and at a predetermined temperature while conveying it to a point of application, comprising in combination a supply tank for the adhesive, a reservoir for receiving a I said adhesive, a pipe line connecting said supply tank with said reservoir, heating jackets disposed exteriorly of said supply tank, said pipe line and said reservoir and providing an enclosing space for the circulation of a fluid heating medium to maintain said adhesive at a predetermined temperature, devices in said reservoir'for successively removing adhesive therefrom during its application to a surface, an axially reciprocable cut-off valve in said pipe line, means for closing said cut-off" valve to stop the fiow of adhesive between said supply tank and said reservoir when said reservoir adhesive removing devices stop operation, and fluid pressure means normally maintaining said cut-off valve in open position.

2. A mechanism for maintaining thermoplastic adhesive in liquid form and at a, predetermined temperature while conveyingit to a point of application, comprising in combination a supply tank for the adhesive, a reservoir for receiving said adhesive, a pipe line connecting said supply tank with said reservoir, heating jackets disposed exteriorly of said supply tank, said pipe line and said reservoir and providing an enclosing space for the circulation of a fluid heating medium to maintain said adhesive at a predetermined temperature, a roller in said reservoir for removing adhesive therefrom and for applying it to, a web passed over said roller, means for rotating said roller, aspring pressed axially recipsupply tank with said reservoir, heating jackets disposed exteriorly of said supply tank, said pipe line and said reservoir and providing an enclosing space for the circulation of a fluid heating mediumto maintain said adhesive at a predetermined temperature, a pair of rollers adapted to feed a web between them, one of said rollers being located in said reservoir for removing adhesive therefrom and for applying it to the web, means for rotating said rollers, an axially reciprocable cut-off valve in said pipe line, electrical means including a solenoid and operable by said roller rotating means for closing said cut-off valve to' stop the flow of adhesive between said supply tank and said reservoir when said roller stops rotating, and fluid pressure means normally maintaining said cut-01f valve in open poits attendant advantages will be understood from sition.

4. A mechanism for maintaining thermoplastic adhesive in liquid form and at a predetermined temperature while conveying it to a point of application, comprising in combination a supply tank for the adhesive, a reservoir for receiving said adhesive, a pipe line connecting said supply tank with said reservoir, heating jackets disposed exteriorly to said supply tank, said pipe line and said reservoir and providing an enclosing space for the circulation of a fluid heating medium to maintain said adhesive at a predeterlatter valve, and electric means including a solenoid operable by said roller rotating means and and release of a pressure fluid into and from the acting on said fluid pressure valve releasing said iluid pressure to render said spring effective to close said cut-oil valve to stop the flow of adhesive between said supply tank and said reservoir when said roller stops rotating.

5. A mechanism for maintaining thermoplastic adhesive in liquid form and at a predetermined temperature while conveying it from place to place, comprising in combination, a supply tank for holding the adhesive, a reservoir for receiving the adhesive from said supply tank and having an adhesive applying roll mounted therein for conveying adhesive therefrom, means for rotating said adhesive applying roll, a pipe line having intersecting right angular joints conheating said supply tank with said reservoir, heating jackets spaced from and surrounding said supply tank, said pipe line and said reservoir, the enclosed space within said jackets being adapted to be filled with a fluid heating medium which is circulated therein to maintain said adhesive at a predetermined temperature, an automatically closing shut-off valve in said pipe line and having holding means normally retainlng said valve in open position to permit the flow of adhesive from said tank to said reservoir, means urging said shut-off valve to closed posiin open position,

said reservoir, means urging said shutoff valve to closed position and an auxiliary valve controlling said shut-oh valve, means operatively uniting said auxiliary valve with said roll rotating means, said auxiliary valve being actuated through said operatively uniting means upon stoppage oi said rotating means to render said holding means ineiiective to further maintain said shut-ofi valve whereby flow of adhesive through said pipe line to said. reservoir is cut off lay the automatic closing of said shut-oil valve by said valve closing means.

7. A mechanism for maintaining thermoplastic adhesive in liquid and at a predetermined temperature while conveying it from place to place, comprising in combination: a. supply tank for holding the adhesive, a reservoir for receiving the adhesive from said supply tank and having an adhesive applying roll disposed therein, means for rotating said roll, a pipe line made up or right angulariy disposed intersecting continuing sections connecting said supply tank with said reservoir, a pipe extension at each corner or the line, a removable cap for closing off the end of each extension, said extensions permitting free access to the interior of said pipe sections when the caps are removed so that the pipe line may be readily cleaned out along its entire length, means for heating the supply tank,

roll rotating means, said auxiliary valve being tion and an auxiliary valve controlling said shutoff valve, means operatively uniting said auxiliary valve with said roll rotating means, said auxiliary valve being actuated through said operatively uniting means upon stoppage of said rotating means to render said holding means ineffective to further maintain said shut-off valve in open position, whereby how of adhesive through said pipe line to said reservoir is cut oil by the automatic closing of said shut-off valve by said valve closing means.

6. A mechanism for maintaining thermoplastic adhesive in liquid form and at a predetermined temperature while conveying it from place to place, comprising in combination, a supply tank for holding the adhesive, a reservoir for receiving the adhesive from said supply tank and having an adhesive applying roll mounted therein for conveying adhesive therefrom, means for rotating said adhesive applying roll, a pipe line made up of angularly disposed and continuing sections connecting said supply tank with said reservoir, said sections having terminal ends united in an intersecting right angular joint, the terminal end of each joint having a removable closure secured thereto to provide free access to the interior of each pipe section to permit cleaning while at the same time leaving the joint undisturbed, an automatically closing shut-off valve in said pipe line and having holding means noractuated through said operatively uniting means upon stoppage or said rotating means for rendering said holding means ineffective to further maintain said shut-off valve in open position, and means operative upon actuation of said auxiliary valve for automatically closing said shut-off valve to cut off further flow of adhesive through said pipe line.

8. A mechanism for maintaining thermoplastic adhesive in liquid form and at a predetermined temperature while conveying it from place to place, comprising in combination, a supply tank for holding the adhesive, a reservoir for receiving the adhesive from said supply tank and having an adhesive applying roll mounted therein for conveying adhesive therefrom, a pipe line made up of right angularly disposed intersecting continuing sections connecting said supply tank with said reservoir, heating jackets spaced from and surrounding said supply tank, said pipe line and said reservoir, the enclosed space within said jackets being adapted to be filled with a fluid heating medium which is circulated therein to maintain said adhesive at a predetermined temperature, said pipe sections each having axial extensions at each corner in the pipe line which project outside of the surrounding pipe jackets at such position, a removable cap for closing the end of each extension during flow of the adhesive through the pipe line, said extensions affording free access to the interior of said pipe sections when the caps are removad so that each pipe section may be readily cleaned out along its entire length, a spring-pressed shutoff valve in said pipe line, means for normally holding said valve in open position to permit flow of adhesive from said tank to said reservoir, and

means controlling said shut-oil valve and opera-- rendering said holding means inefiective, whereby said valve is closed by its spring to-cut oif further fiow of adhesive throughsaid pipe line.

9. A mechanism for maintaining thermoplastic adhesive in liquid form and at a predetermined temperature while conveying itfrom place to place, comprising in combination, a supply tank for melting the adhesive, a reservoir for receiving the melted adhesive and having an adhesive applying roll mounted therein for conveying ad- 'hesive therefrom, electrically energized means for rotating said roll; a pipe line connecting said supply tank with said reservoir, heating jackets spaced from and surrounding said supply tank and said reservoir and enclosing a space around them for the circulation of a fluid heating medium to heat and maintain the adhesive within said tank and reservoir at a predetermined temperature, said pipe line being composed of right angularly disposed intersecting sections joined together in a continuous conduit, heating jackets spaced from and surrounding the pipe sections and providing a passage for a fluid heating medium for maintaining the adhesive in ,the pipe line at a predetermined temperature, means tor by-passing the heating fluid from one pipe heating jacket to another at the junction of each pipe section, an automatically closing shut-off.

valve in said pipe line and having fluid pressure means normally holding the same in open position to permit flow of adhesive from said tank to said reservoir, and an electrically actuated auxiliary valve electrically connected with said roll rotating means and controlling said shut-oil. valve, said valve being adapted to be actuated when the said electrical connections are broken and said adhesiveapplying roll stops rotating for rendering said fluid pressure means ineffective to further maintain said shut-ofivalve in open position, whereby the flow of adhesive through said pipe line to said reservoir is out 01f by the autmatic closing of said.valve,

10. A mechanism for maintaining thermoplastic adhesive in liquid form and at a predetermined temperature while conveying it from one place to another, comprising'in combination: a supply tank for the adhesive, a reservoir for receiving said adhesive and having an adhesive applying roll mounted therein for conveying adhesive' therefrom, means for rotating said roll, a pipe line connectingsaid supply tank with said reservoir, heating jackets disposed exteriorly of said supply tank, said pipe line and said reservoir and providing an enclosing space for the circulation of a fluid heating medium by means of which said adhesive may be maintained at a predetermined temperature, a manually operable axially reciprocable valve extending through a said heating jacket and into the interior of said pipe line for controlling the flow of adhesive from said supply tank to said reservoir to maintain a predetermined level of adhesive'in the reservoir, a second axially re'ciprocable automati cally closing valve located in-said pipe line for controlling the flow of adhesive therethrough, means normally holding said second mentioned valve in open position, means urging said second valve to closed position, and meansoperatively uniting said second valve with said roll rotating means, said second valve being actuated through said operatively uniting means upon stoppage of said rotating means to render said holding means ineffective to further main-v tain said second mentioned valve in open position, whereby the flow of adhesive through said pipe line is cut off by the automatic closing of said valve.

- HERBERT F. COX, JR.

HOWARD M. HILL. 

